America's top intel official said his surprised reaction to news of a second Putin summit wasn't meant to be 'disrespectful'

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Trump holds Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington Thomson Reuters

Dan Coats, the Director of National Intelligence, said in a statement Saturday that he did not intend to be disrespectful when he expressed surprise over a second summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Coats had learned of the news on Thursday in the middle of a live interview, and responded, "OK. That's gonna be special."

Coats said Saturday his response was "admittedly awkward" and "was in now way meant to be disrespectful or criticize the actions of the president."

The top US intelligence official said Saturday he meant no disrespect to President Donald Trump in a televised interview discussing the summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.

Coats had learned mid-interview that talks were underway for Putin to visit the White House this fall at Trump's invitation, and didn't conceal his surprise.

"Say that again," Coats said when MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell informed him of the breaking news.

"OK. That's gonna be special," he said.

Coats had already been under scrutiny since he said he wished Trump had not met one-on-one with the Russian leader and expressed dismay that the president had publicly undermined US intelligence agencies.

"My admittedly awkward response was in no way meant to be disrespectful or criticize the actions of the president," Coats said in his statement.